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A race for a cause in Hong Kong Formula E’s 50th e-Prix

With the advent of electric cars and people increasingly switching to them for an environmentally safer option, few people know that the e-car has already taken over the world of racing.

As with many great ideas, Formula E, the first all-electric street racing series, was first conceptualized over a conversation and a piece of napkin.

On March 3, 2011 in Paris, Jean Todt and Alejandro Agag laid down the vision of a racing series that helps live the potential of sustainable mobility and a cleaner environment.

Five seasons later, Hong Kong has found itself as of the prime venues for Formula E's e-Prix events. It was here that the 2015/16 and 2017/18 seasons kicked off, and the third time the tournament visits the city (on March 10, 2019) will also be the 50th race in the series' history.

What makes Formula E the up-and-coming star on the motor sports arena today, and why should you attend the E-Prix on March 10?

Simply put, it's racing redefined. Over the course of five seasons, Formula E has not only proved to be the most intense racing on the planet, but it holds the key to sporting entertainment, innovation and environmental protection.

For example, the 2018/19 season saw the introduction of the innovative Gen2 car, which has double the energy storage capacity, rampant pace as it accelerates from 0-100 km/h in just 2.8 seconds, and recyclable parts. Formula E teamed with a Belgian tech pros Umicore to use recyclable lithium-ion battery units and cells in the very launch of Formula E.

If you think that it's still a niche, then you're wrong. Formula E consists of 11 teams with two drivers each. Each team represents an automobile giant, such as BMW, Mahindra, Audi, Venturi, Envision, etc. From next season, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche will be involved as well.

When it comes to reach Formula E has already had races in 12 cities covering over 5 continents. These are major metropolises, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Mexico City and Paris.

On March 10, Hong Kong's Central Harbour front will be home to Formula E's elite stars. However, this could be the last e-Prix that the city gets for a while because Formula E is unsure as to whether they'll return to Hong Kong next season. There will be more construction scheduled for the Central Harbour front, which could potentially affect the race in 2020.

Moreover, Formula E is locked to have a race in Seoul next year, and many other cities are interested in having an E race as well. That being the case, this could be the last opportunity in a while for Hong Kong residents to witness the marvel that is Formula E.

It's guaranteed to be a thriller. If there's one thing you really need to know about Formula E, it's that you must expect the unexpected. Each of the four races this season has produced a different result, with underdogs taking the lead in the standings. Hong Kong's e-Prix may very well witness the same, as other teams and drivers look to make an aggressive comeback.

Apart from the entertainment value of watching superb cars go really fast, Formula E's cause goes beyond just the environment. They teamed with FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, Susie Wolff and Dare to be Different to promote the participation of women in motorsports. The brand is progressive in every sense of the word, and its’ popularity is only going to shoot up year by year.

Formula E has even made a way to be more interactive with fans via gaming. With Live Ghost racing, children and people of all ages can get a feel of what it’s like to be on the track, as they have a virtual reality game that sees people “compete” in the track via CGI projections and live tracking.

In their grand Allianz E-village, there’s a lot of gaming that happens, where anyone can race against drivers in the top-notch simulator. The E-Village also has a very casual party environment, where families can gather and enjoy the races while having some great food and drinks.

Hop on the hype train and witness the phenomenon of Formula E on March 10 in Central Hong Kong! For tickets, visit here.

Still not sure of a reason to watch? Visit this linkto be more than convinced!